Fire Regulations in Rochester, NY (2026)
4 verified fire regulations for Rochester, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Rochester requires an annual operating permit from the Fire Safety Division for open burning, flames, torches, candles or heaters, at a fee of $105, under the Fire Prevention Code's adoption of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
Rochester Fire Pit and Open Flame Permit: $105
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 54-9(B)(28)
Operating permits pursuant to § 54-7 shall be issued annually, and the annual fees for such permits shall be as follows: ... Open burning, flames, torches, candles or heaters: $105.
Outdoor Burning
Rochester's Smoke and Air Pollution Control chapter declares dense smoke, defined as No. 2 or greater on the Ringelmann Chart, a nuisance and makes it unlawful to let it escape from any open fire, chimney, stack or combustion equipment in the city, with only narrow allowances for lighting or cleaning a fuel bed.
Rochester Bans Dense Smoke From Open Fires
Significant RestrictionsRochester City Code § 100-3
Dense smoke is hereby declared to be a nuisance, and the emission or escape thereof from any locomotive, tug, boat, stack, chimney or flue of any premises, building, fuel-burning equipment, roundhouse, portable equipment or other similar contrivance or from any open fire shall be unlawful; provided, however, that the following exceptions to the provisions of this section shall be permitted.
Smoke Detectors
Rochester's Property Code requires hardwired, interconnected smoke alarms audible throughout the structure in one- and two-family dwellings where third-floor occupancy began before January 1, 1984, and in every multiple dwelling with five or more units, installed in the basement and public hallways, under City Code § 90-10. The alarms must comply with the New York State Fire Code.
Rochester Smoke Alarm Requirement for Dwellings
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 90-10(A)-(B)
§ 90-10. Fire safety. A. In one- and/or two-family dwellings, where it has been demonstrated that third-floor occupancy commenced before January 1, 1984, hardwired interconnected smoke alarms shall be installed in the basement and in all common areas on each level which are audible throughout the entire structure, except that for buildings with no common areas, hardwired interconnected smoke al...
Propane Storage
Rochester requires any street food vending unit using propane to store the tanks outdoors or in a vented, noncombustible compartment used only for propane, labeled "PROPANE" in letters at least 1.5 inches high, kept upright, and inspected annually by the Fire Safety Division before a vending license issues under Municipal Code § 62-6A(17).
Rochester Vending Cart Propane Storage Rules
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 62-6A(17)(b)
For a vending unit using propane, the propane shall be stored in the open air or in a properly vented compartment. A propane storage compartment shall be made of a noncombustible material and shall be used only for storing propane, and no food, merchandise, goods or equipment shall be placed therein. Propane tanks shall be securely fastened to the vending unit whether they are stored in the ope...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rochester city rules.
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